Spray gun mechanism

ABSTRACT

An improved valve assembly for a spray gun including a pair of conduit-contained fluid flow controlling check valves each spring-biased to a closed position, a manually actuated lever operable to manipulate linkage for opening the valves to permit pressurized gas and pumped liquid to flow through the conduits and to intermix, and means for controlling, sequentially, the opening and closing of the valves. The valve assembly also has adaptor means that incorporates normally closed valve means so that the pressurized gas and the liquid sources can readily be connected to the conduits.

United States Patent Nathan 5] Oct. 28, 1975 SPRAY GUN MECHANISM 3,366,337 1/1968 Brooks et al 239/414 Inventor: obe t Nathan Highland Park In 3,658,255- 4/1972 Beall 239/415 [73] Assignee: DeMert & Dougherty, Northbrook, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 11 722,951 2/1955 United Kingdom 239/571 [22] Ffled: Sept 1974 Primary ExaminerRobert S. Ward, Jr. [21] A N 509,548 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dressler, Goldsmith,

Clement & Gordon, Ltd.

[52] US. Cl. 239/415; 239/528; 239/574;

239/583; 239/600 [57] ABSTRACT Illt- 305B 305B B0513 5/06 An improved valve assembly for a spray gun including [58] Field of Search 239/307, 310, 311, 341-, a pair of conduit-contained fluid flow controlling 5 check valves each spring-biased to a closed position, a

527, 528, 569, 571, 583, 574, 600 manually actuated lever operable to manipulate linkage for opening the valves to permit pressurized gas [56] References Cited and pumped liquid to flow through the conduits and to UNITED STATES PATENTS intermix, and means for controlling, sequentially, the 1,436,145 11/1922 Birkenmaier 239/528 opening and closing of the valves' The valve assembly 1,920,165 8/1933 Anvig 239/528 x has adaptor means that incorporates normally 2 032 0 0 6/1937 J ki 239/527 X closed valve means so that the pressurized gas and the 2,246,211 6/1941 Kilich 239/375 X liquid sources can readily be connected to the con- 2,557,593 6/1951 Bjorkman 239/528 duits. 2,619,385 11/1952 Simms 239/375 X 2,717,806 9 1955 D516 239/528 x 7 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,915,388

AIR FLOW LIQUID FLOW US. Patent Oct. 28, 19757 Sheet2of3 3,915,388

i SPRAY GUN MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to improvements in spraying mechanisms. More particularly, the invention is directed to a spray-controlling valve assembly of the type finding utility in theatomization of a liquid preparation by means of a pressurized propelling gas such as air. The invention'is specially adapted for use in beauty parlors and similar establishments in which hair sprays are applied to the hair of customers who patronize the shop for professional beauty and cosmetic care.

Many and varied techniques are currently employed inbeauty shops for the spraying of setting materials and other hair treatment and hair control preparations onto the hair. The coating compositions themselves include solutions containing such agents as shellac or polyvinylprolidone (PVP). The present invention is, directed to "the spray control mechanism used, rather than to compositions.

It has been a'widespread practice in prior art procedures to rely upon packaged aerosol preparations in which a solution of the material to be dispensed is packaged in a valved, pressurized container in which the volatile propellant is a halogenated hydrocarbon such as Freon or Genetron. Such preparations have been extensively used not only by professionals in beauty shops but also by individuals in their homes. While the self-contained unitary aerosol dispensers have obvious advantages including remarkable convenience, they also have certain significant inherent disadvantages and objectionable features. Beside the con- 'siderable cost of such packaged products, there is now a growing realization that the continued inhalation of gaseous halogenated hydrocarbons has deleterious effects, particularly on the respiratory system. The inhalation of such gases should, accordingly, be avoided wherever possible.

An alternative technique which has been adopted by some shops is the simple atomization of the hair spray preparation using an ordinary hand operated atomizer consisting of a container which is pressurized by compressing a hand compressible bulb to force air into and to discharge air and spray from a nozzle connected to the fluid container. Still another precedure which is coming more and more into favor in beauty shops is the utilization of a pressurized air supply as the propelling means for dispensing atomized hair treating preparations. Such a system has important advantages particularly in beauty shops where a single compressor unit may be used to deliver pressurized air through a conduit to a plurality of spraying stations. Each station may, in turn, include a dispensing vessel which contains the solution to be sprayed or, alternatively, the spray solution may be delivered to each station through a conduit connected to a supply reservoir. Whatever system is adapted in any particular beauty establishment, an essential element of the apparatus involved is a spray head or dispensing head and its controlling valve or valves.

It will be appreciated that in systems utilizing dual delivery lines or conduits to multiple stations, two separate valves are needed-at each operating station. One controls the pressurized air and the other the flow of solution. In one prior art system the valving or the control of the flow through the tubes at the dispensing head is achieved by mechanically pinching the flexible conduit closed. However, since the period during which the tube is held closed may be quite extensive, the tubes often undergo an undesirable set establishing a constriction which impairs effective passage of fluid and pressurized air. The tubes may become blocked permanently. The tubes also are subject to excessive wear at the area of pinching, and fail or fracture prematurely. In addition to the resulting need for replacement, it will be understood that when a tube splits there occurs an uncontrolled escape of hair treating fluid. This causes clothing damage, and necessitates extensive cleanup procedures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the aim of the present invention to obviate the shortcomings of the prior art techniques and apparatus and to provide a simple yet highly effective spray head assembly and control valves which may be used in the pressurized air dispensing method for hair spray preparations and for other materials.

In accordance with the present invention, the aims and objects are accomplished by providing in a spray gun assembly of the type including dual conduits for the transmission of pressurized air and a liquid for mixing and dispensing as a vaporized spray, a replaceable cartridge which includes a pair of fluid flow controlling valves each associated with one of the fluid carrying conduits and effective to control and regulate the passage of fluid (gas or liquid) therethrough. The valves are actuated by a single control element which, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, is a fingeractuated pivotal lever operatively coupled to a pair of rods to unseat check valves each controlling, respectively, air and liquid passage through given conduits. The opening and closing of the respective valves is maintained to be sequential so that the pressurized air conduit is opened first and closed last.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated the valves themselves and the means opening and closing the valves constitute an integral selfcontained cartridge which is secured within but is readily separable and removable from the housing of the spray gun assembly. Thus, should it become necessary to repair or to replace any component of a valve, or even the entire valve assembly, such replacement is quickly and easily achieved by simply removing the entire cartridge as a unit and replacing it with a new cartridge. This important maintenance feature ensures that there will be no equipment down time or business interruption and that even the most inexperienced personnel may readily repair" the assembly, without delay, should this prove necessary.

The spray gun assembly also has adaptor means for connecting the liquid and gas sources to the selfcontained cartridge. The adaptor means has two passages each having a normally closed valve therein and the self-contained cartridge has opening means for maintaining the normally closed valves in the open position when the adaptor means is attached to the cartridge so that the passages are in communication with the respective conduits in the cartridge. The spray gun assembly may also include adjustable means cooperating with a flexile hose leading from the liquid source to the liquid passage to vary the amount of liquid delivered to the cartridge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more specifically and more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the spray gun assembly of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines 6--6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines 77 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on the lines 9-9 of FIG. 1 and showing the mixing chamber and discharge orifice of the spray gun assembly of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing a modified form of spray gun assembly;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line l1ll of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view as viewed along line 1212 of FIG. 10 showing a slightly modified form of adaptor means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5, there is shown, for the purpose of illustrative disclosure, a preferred embodiment of one form of the spray gun assembly of the invention, incorporating the teachings thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the physical components of the spray gun assembly include an outer housing, shell or casing 22, a unitary, self-contained replaceable valve cartridge 26, and a spray discharge head 30. The housing 22 includes a forward wall-like section 32 and a rear wall'section 36 which, in the preferred form of the invention illustrated, are locked together by means of bolt 40 received in opposed cooperating threaded socket 46. As its forward exterior face, the wall 32 is shaped to provide wave-like crests 52 and hollows 54 defining a convenient and comfortable hand gripping surface.

The valve cartridge 26 includes a body block which seats upon an annular rim-like shoulder or ledge 64 defining a support flange integrally formed with the housing wall components 32 and 36 and extending therearound internally thereof, as seen in FIG. 4. Body block 60 is held in housing component 32 by one or more pins 42 received through openings 48. As additional securement and stabilization means, a threaded bolt extends through the wall section 72 of the shell member 36 and into a cooperating threaded socket 76 in the cartridge body 60.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, the cartridge body or block 60 contains two control valve assemblies 80 and 80a, the former regulating the flow of liquid and the latter controlling the flow of pressurized air or other gas. Since the two valve assemblies are of similar construction, only one is described herein in detail.

In each valve assembly the valve block 60 is formed with a generally cylindrical duct or passage extending through the full vertical length of the cartridge body 70. The lower section 92 of the passage 90 is somewhat enlarged radially to provide at its upper limit an internal annular flange or shoulder 94 which serves as a seat for a self-closing valve 98 which, in the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, is a round steel ball check valve. An elongated coil spring 102 disposed axially in the lower portion 92 of the passage 90 is retained in position under axial compression by means of a generally T-shaped plug 106 extending into and secured at the lower end of the passage 92, the plug being bored through its entire axial length and terminating at its lower extremity in a pipe-like extension or stub 1 10 to which a flexible hose or tubing 114 is connected. The tubing, in turn, is connected to a liquid supply reservoir (or compressed air source), not shown. The opposed end of the T-shaped plug 106 defines an annular shoulder 116 on which the base of the spring 102 is supported, whereby the spring is confined in compressed tension to urge the ball 98 upwardly against the valve seat 94. In the preferred form of the invention illustrated, an O-ring 120 of rubber-like material is interposed between the seat 94 and the ball check 98 to obviate any possibility of fluid leakage.

That section 124 of the tubular passage 90 immediately above the ball check valve 98 is of a somewhat re duced diameter and constitutes a sleeve-like housing or guide for a push rod 126, the lower tip 128 of which abuts the ball check valve 98 and the upper limit of which is adapted to contact a lever 130 which is pivotally supported on a pin 134 carried by the wall 32 of the housing 22 whereby downward displacement of a finger controlled extension 136 of the lever forces a cam face 138 of the lever 130 against the rod 126 which, in turn, displaces the ball check 98 to open the valve. Upon release of the lever, the bias force of the spring 102 returns the check valve 98 to its valve sealing position. Near the upper limit of the tubular passage 90 the passage is enlarged somewhat to receive an annular O- ring 140 which is sized to establish a fluid-tight seal between the body 60 of the valve cartridge and the axially shiftable rod 126. A plug 142 confines the O-ring in position.

Intersecting and communicating with the passage 90 at a point above the check valve 98 is an angled second passage or conduit opening to the exterior of the block or valve body 60 and terminating in an outwardly extending stub pipe or connector 152 for attachment to a hose or pipe coupled at its other end to the spray head assembly 30. The pipe 160 is connected to a centrally disposed liquid feed line 164 for delivery of liquid to a mixing cavity or chamber in the spray head 30 while the tube 160a is connected to a pipe 174 delivering pressurized air to an annular passage encircling and communicating with the exit port 182 of the liquid feed line 164 whereby forced, intimate mixing of gas and liquid occur in the mixing chamber 170 and an atomized spray 184 is discharged from the orifice of the spray nozzle.

It will be understood from the foregoing description considered in conjunction with the drawings that, upon actuation of the lever 130 to displace the ball check 98, fluid under pressure, from a supply, not shown, will pass the valve 98 and enter into the conduit 150 to be delivered to the spray head 30. In accordance with the practice of the invention the single lever control mechanism 130 acts upon both control rods 126 and 126a whereby both control valves are opened to deliver, concurrently, pressurized air and fluid to the spray head 30 for. mixing and for discharge as an atomized spray.

It is an important feature in the operation of the spray gun assembly of the invention that the physical arrangement of component elements ensures that the pressurized air is released from the gun prior to and the discharge of such air from the gun is terminated after the release of pressurized liquid. This arrangement obviates the discharge of a stream or jet of liquid and ensures that all liquid dispensed is atomized. Additionally, the arrangement prevents any dripping of liquid at the cut off of a spray interval. In the preferred arrangement of the structure illustrated, the sequential operation of the control valves is achieved by controlling the effective lengths of the coupling or linkages between the valve triggering mechanism and the check valves themselves. Specifically, as evident in FIG. 5, the push rod 126 which actuates the liquid flow control valve 80 is somewhat shorter than is the push rod 126a which actuates the compressed air valve 80a. Accordingly, upon depressing the trigger control mechanism 136 downwardly about its pivot pin 134, the camming surface 138 on the underside of the lever 130 engages and bears upon the push rod 126a and opens the pressurized air valve 80a prior to engagement of the camming surface 138 against the tip of the push rod 126. Thus, the pressurized air valve is opened a fraction of a second prior to opening the valve which dispenses pressurized or pump impelled liquid. The physical structure described also ensures that the pressurized air valve 80a will remain open until after the valve 80 which controls the dispensing of pressurized liquid is closed. It will be appreciated that many other sequential operation arrangements are possible including, for example, push rods or other linkage of the same length but actuated through controlled differential camming surfaces.

Another important feature of the improved spray gun assembly of the invention is that it effectively eliminates down time or repair interruptions during use of the equipment involved. Most equipment difficul ties experienced stem from the valves which control either liquid flow or pressurized air flow. In accordance with the present invention, should any problem arise with either control valve, it requires merely a matter of a minute or two to open the casing of the spray gun assembly, remove the valve cartridge, and replace it with a new cartridge. The'steps involved include separating the forward section 32 and the rear section 36 of the housing 22 by removal of the locking bolts 40 and 42. The valve cartridge 26 is then detached from the housing by removal of the bolt 70. Finally, the rubber tubing leads 114 and 114a at the input to the valve cartridge and the rubber tubing leads 160 and 160a at the exhaust ports of the cartridge are removed and a new cartridge installed.

A slightly modified form of the spray gun assembly is shown in FIGS. through 12. In this embodiment, valve assembly 20a includes most of the components that have been described in connection with assembly 20 discussed above. In this embodiment, outer housing or casing 22a is substantially identical to housing 22 discussed above with the exception of the lower end which will be described later. In addition, valve body block 60!) is again identical in construction to valve body block 60 which forms part of valve cartridge 26 described above with some minor modifications at the lower end thereof that will be described later.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 through 12, the spray gun assembly incorporates adaptor means 200 interposed between valve body 60b and flexible hoses 114 and 114a that respectively supply the liquid and the pressurized gas from the respective sources (not shown). Adaptor means 200 is designed to automatically connect and disconnect hoses 114 and 114a to first and second conduits defined by passages annd 90a when the adaptor means is assembled with cartridge body or block 60a.

For this purpose, adaptor means 200 consists of a body 202 that has first and second passages 204 and 206 extending therethrough. Each of the passsages has a reduced portion 210 defining a shoulder or seat for a normally closed valve. Adaptor means 200 also has first and second normally closed valve means consisting of round steel ball check valves 212 which are biased into engagement with valve seats 210 by springs 214. O-ring seats 215 may be interposed between valve seats 210 and ball check valves 212.

The lower ends of springs 214 are in engagement with tubular plugs 216 respectively fixed in the lower ends of passages 204 and 206. Tubular plugs 216 have reduced pipe-like extensions or stubs 218 at the lower end thereof. The extensions or stubs 218 respectively receive flexible hoses 1 14 and 114a which lead from a liquid and gas source (not shown). v

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 10 through 12, extensions and 1100 extending from the lower end of cartridge body 60a are configured to be received into the upper open ends of passages 204 and 206 and have a length sufficient to move ball valves 212 away from the valve seats so that the openings in the tubelike extensions 110 and 110a are in communication with flexible hoses 114 and 114a around valves 212. This communication between the lower ends of tubelike extensions 110 and 110a and the adjacent surfaces of ball valves 212 may be accomplished by producing irregularities along the lower edges of extensions 110 and 110a and/or producing small openings adjacent the lower end of tube-like extensions 110 or 110a. Thus,

when the adaptor body 202 of adaptor means 200 is po-' sitioned as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the normally closed first and second valve means defined by balls 212 are held in an open position by tube-like extensions 110 and 110a which define first and second opening means on the cartridge body so that passages 204 and 206 are respectively in communication with passages or conduits 90 and 90a. To prevent leakage between the passages 204 and extensions 110 and 110a, O-ring seals 219 are provided and are retained in passages 204 by sleeves 220.

According to another aspect of the invention, adaptor means 200 also incorporates adjustable means for varying the amount of liquid that is received into spray gun assembly 20b. In its preferred form, the adjustable means cooperates with flexible tubing 114 extending from the liquid source to adaptor means 200.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 11, flexible hoses 1 14 and 114a extend through openings 221 located at the lower end of housing portion 222 that is received on adaptor body 202. Housing portion 222 has a rigid element 224 located between the two hoses which defines a backing element for adjustable means that will now be described. Adjustable means 226 (FIG. 1 1) includes a plate-like member 228 that is positioned opposite backing element 224 and is held in a recess 230 in housing portion 222. Housing portion 222 has an adjustable screw 232 which is threaded into an opening 234 and has its inner end in engagement with the adjacent surface of plate 228. Thus, by rotation of the knob on the end of screw 232, plate 228 can be moved to vary the size of the opening in hose 114.

The unique advantage of the adaptor means described above is the fact that the entire unit can readily be configured to be received into the lower end of housing 22b and, when in assembled position, automatically maintains communication between flexible hoses 1 l4 and 1 14a and the passageways defined in valve cartridge 60b. If it is necessary for any reason to disconnect the hoses, it is only necessary for the operator to pull the adaptor means or assembly from the lower end of spray gun 20b and valves 212 will automatically close to prevent flow through flexible hoses 114 and 1 14a.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. and 11, adaptor means 200 has been shown as being a one-piece unit with both valve elements and passages in a single valve body. However, it will be appreciated that the two passages could readily be formed in separate bodies such as 202a and 202!) shown in FIG. 12. This latter arrangement would have the additional advantage of being able to unplug the liquid source and plug in a different liquid source in a matter of seconds so that the spray gun assembly could be utilized for spraying different materials.

The spray gun mechanism of the present invention may be fabricated of any suitable materials including a wide variety of plastics. A preferred general material is polystyrene. A plastic of high lubricity is preferred for the rods which displace the check valves. Polyhalegenated hydrocarbon materials such as polytetrafluorethylene or polytrifluorochloroethylene sold in the trade under the trademarks TEFLON and KEL-F are particularly suitable.

The foregoing description and drawings are provided merely to explain and illustrate the invention and the manner in which it may be performed, and the invention is not to be limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, since those skilled in the art who have this disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A spray gun assembly including a body having first conduit means for connection to a pressurized gas line, second conduit means for connection to a liquid line, a mixing zone in communication with said conduit means for receiving pressurized gas and fluid, orifice means on said mixing zone for dispensing an atomized mixture of gas and fluid, control means in said first and second conduit means for controlling the flow of liquid and gas, and adaptor means for connecting a pressurized gas source to said gas line and a liquid source to said liquid line, said adaptor means having first and second passage means extending therethrough, first and second normally closed valve means in the respective passage means, means at an opposite end of said first passage means for connecting a pressurized gas source thereto, means at the opposite end of said second passage means for connecting a fluid source thereto, and first and second opening means on said body adapted to be received into one end of the respective passage means to open said first and second valve means and retain said valve means in an open position so that said first and second passage means are respectively connected to said first and second conduit means.

2. The spray gun assembly as defined in claim 1, in which said first and second opening means include first and second rigid tubes respectively in communication with said first and second conduit means.

3. The spray gun assembly as defined in claim 1, in which said means for connecting said fluid source includes a flexible hose having an opening therein, further including a housing supporting said adaptor means, and adjustable means on said housing cooperating with said hose for varying the size of said opening in said hose.

4. The spray gun assembly as defined in claim 1, in which said adaptor means includes first and second separate portions with said first passage means in said first portion and said second passage means in said second portion.

5. The spray gun assembly as defined in claim 2, in which said first and second valve means each include a ball valve and a spring biasing said ball valve to a closed position.

6. The spray gun assembly as defined in claim 1, further including a housing for said body, said housing having first and second housing sections, first releasable means interconnecting said housing sections and second releasable means connecting said body to at least one of said housing sections.

7. The spray gun assembly as defined in claim 6, in which said first conduit means includes a first passageway extending from one end of said body to the opposite end with a branch passage leading from an intermediate portion of said first passageway, said branch passage being connected to said mixing zone; and said second conduit means includes a second passageway extending from one end of said body to the opposite end with a second branch passage leading from an intermediate portion of said second passageway and connected to said mixing zone; and said control means includes a ball valve and spring means in each passageway and first and second separate rods extending respectively from one end of said first and second passageways, and a single lever pivoted on said housing for moving both rods and opening said ball valves. 

1. A spray gun assembly including a body having first conduit means for connection to a pressurized gas line, second conduit means for connection to a liquid line, a mixing zone in communication with said conduit means for receiving pressurized gas and fluid, orifice means on said mixing zone for dispensing an atomized mixture of gas and fluid, control means in said first and second conduit means for controlling the flow of liquid and gas, and adaptor means for connecting a pressurized gas source to said gas line and a liquid source to said liquid line, said adaptor means having first and second passage means extending therethrough, first and second normally closed valve means in the respective passage means, means at an opposite end of said first passage means for connecting a pressurized gas source thereto, means at the opposite end of said second passage means for connecting a fluid source thereto, and first and second opening means on said body adapted to be received into one end of the respective passage means to open said first and second valve means and retain said valve means in an open position so that said first and second passage means are respectively connected to said first and second conduit means.
 2. The spray gun assembly as defined in claim 1, in which said first and second opening means include first and second rigid tubes respectively in communication with said first and second conduit means.
 3. The spray gun assembly as defined in claim 1, in which said means for connecting said fluid source includes a flexible hose having an opening therein, further including a housing supporting said adaptor means, and adjustable means on said housing cooperating with said hose for varying the size of said opening in said hose.
 4. The spray gun assembly as defined in claim 1, in which said adaptor means includes first and second separate portions with said first passage means in said first portion and said second passage means in said second portion.
 5. The spray gun assembly as defined in claim 2, in which said first and second valve means each include a ball valve and a spring biasing said ball valve to a closed position.
 6. The spray gun assembly as defined in claim 1, further including a housing for said body, said housing having first and second housing sections, first releasable means interconnecting said housing sections and second releasable means connecting said body to at least one of said housing sections.
 7. The spray gun assembly as defined in claim 6, in which said first conduit means includes a first passageway extending from one end of said body to the opposite end with a branch passage leading from an intermediate portion of said first passageway, said branch passage being connected to said mixing zone; and said second conduit means includes a second passageway extending from one end of said body to the opposite end with a second branch passage leading from an intermediate portion of said second passageway and connected to said mixing zone; and said control means includes a ball valve and spring means in each passageway and first and second separate rods extending respectively from one end of said first and second passageways, and a single lever pivoted on said housing for moving both rods and opening said ball valves. 